Would you like to be part of the EU Roma Week 2020 and stand up for the visibility of Roma youth in European policies? Join the 5-days Roma Youth Advocacy Training (21-26 March 2020) in Brussels to learn about European policy-making and civil society advocacy, and to raise young voices to combat antigypsyism and to advance important issues for Roma communities. This is your chance to raise the voices of Roma youth during the EU Roma Week!
This five-day training will gather 20 young Roma and non-Roma activists in order to strengthen their capacity as young advocates and leaders to represent their communities and articulate their interests. During the training the group will have the chance to challenge EU level actors, like Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission. The advocacy training, which is organized in parallel the “EU Roma Week”, and run by Phiren Amenca International Network, ERGO Network and ternYpe International Roma Youth Network.
The training aims to strengthen the capacity of the participants to understand the structures and working mechanisms of the EU institutions, as well as the current EU policies concerning Roma and against racism, and to develop advocacy strategies and campaigns raising-awareness about Roma youth on European level.
“EU Roma Week” in the European Parliament
The EU Roma Week is a four-day event hosted by the European Parliament, European Commission and civil society around the International Day against Racism, 21 March. It aims to build on the work that has been done during previous Roma Weeks and raises issues initiated by civil society actors, such as antigypsyism, inclusion policies, employment, environmental justice, reproductive rights and youth participation.
Participants of the training will join the official program of the Roma Week in the European Parliament as part of the Roma youth Breakfast, Discussion and Roma Youth Project Award, where their opinions will be also presented.
The objectives of the Roma Youth Advocacy Training 2020 are to:
- Exchange and learn about best practices of advocacy;
- Get to know the institutions and the working mechanisms of the European Union, and the policies concerning Roma, in particular the Post-2020 EU Framework on Roma Equality and Inclusion;
- Explore the evaluation of the National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) up to 2020, and ways for including Roma youth as a special focus in the Post-2020 EU Framework;
- Develop specific policy recommendations for the decision-makers from a Roma youth perspective;
- Build a dialogue and bring a Roma youth perspective to DG Justice (responsible for Roma policies in the European Commission), to DG EAC (Education and Culture, includes the youth sector in the European Commission), as well as to Members of the European Parliament;
- Learn about the importance of including the aspect of antigypsyism in policy-making;
- Learn about the advocacy work of EU umbrella organizations and contribute to their work;
- Support participants to take action on Roma youth perspectives during the “EU Roma Week” of the European Parliament;
- Raise awareness of Members of the European Parliament, European Commission staff and Brussels based advocates about the recognition of Roma youth issues.
We invite Roma and non-Roma youth leaders, activists, multipliers, and volunteers who are active advocates in and for Roma communities and experienced in working with Roma communities and/or Roma youth, who also fit the following criteria:
- aged between 18 – 30 years;
- committed to attend for the full duration of the course;
- able to work in English, or check with the coordination that translation can be provided through other participants or team members;
- resident in one of the following countries: EU Member States and Enlargement Countries
- actively committed and involved in a Roma youth initiative, advocacy group or organization;
- motivated to develop their competences in advocacy, youth work, anti-discrimination work, and to share their experiences with other participants;
We encourage participants who have not participated in the training previously and who demonstrate a strong interest in advocacy and political participation.
DATES OF THE ACTIVITY
Arrival: March 21, 2020 (Saturday) till 1pm
Program days: March 21 to March 25, 2020
Departure: March 26, 2019
APPLICATION AND SELECTION
How to apply?
By filling the application form through the following link: https://forms.gle/2DEfUxNjgtsQ7FZP9
Application deadline: February 2, 2020 (end of day)
Selection procedure
If you fit into the participants’ profile, you may submit an application until February 2 at midnight Central European Time. The preparatory team will select up the participants on the basis of the profile outlined above, ensuring also a balance between genders, geographical regions, different types of experiences and organizations. Within few days, we will inform the candidates whether their application has been accepted or rejected.
The training is part of the Roma Youth Voices project, which project is coordinated by Phiren Amenca in co-operation with ternYpe. The project offers capacity-building for Roma youth organizations on local and national level, aim to develop advocacy and leadership skills of young Roma leaders. Moreover, its aim is to raise the voice for mobilization and participation of Roma youth in policy-processes through national Roma youth platforms, as well as to strengthen the role of young people and youth organizations in the context of the National Roma Integration Strategies. This project is funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020).
ANY QUESTIONS?
Contact: Ildikó Csanya, [email protected]
